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1999's 'Latin Explosion' chased crossover hits. Today, Latino artists don't need them

In the third part of our series exploring crossover in pop music, we reexamine the so-called "Latin explosion" of the '90s: what it was supposed to be for audiences across the U.S., and what it actually came to represent. Blake Cale for NPR hide caption

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Blake Cale for NPR

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1999's 'Latin Explosion' chased crossover hits. Today, Latino artists don't need them

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Latino artists like Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira ruled the pop charts. But who was that so-called "Latin Explosion" actually for, and what were the business considerations behind it? In the third part of our series exploring crossover in pop music, we examine how this supposed boom turned out to be more of a marketing creation, which evaporated when digital streaming entered the picture.

1999's 'Latin Explosion' chased crossover hits. Today, Latino artists don't need them

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20 Years After She Unplugged For MTV, Shakira Taught Me To See Myself

Shakira onstage during her MTV Unplugged performance, recorded in New York in 1999 and released as a live album in early 2000. Ignacio Gurruchaga/Courtesy of Sony Music hide caption

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Ignacio Gurruchaga/Courtesy of Sony Music

NPR Music's 20|20

20 Years After She Unplugged For MTV, Shakira Taught Me To See Myself

Dancing to the mariachi horns of "Ciega, Sordomuda," one young Latina found a deep, unwavering love staring her in the face. It just took a song about being blinded by emotion to see it clearly.

Shakira And Jennifer Lopez's Halftime Show Unpacked

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez perform during the Super Bowl's halftime show. Rob Carr/Getty Images hide caption

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Rob Carr/Getty Images

Alt.Latino

Shakira And Jennifer Lopez's Halftime Show Unpacked

Shakira and Jennifer Lopez did more than shake things up on the Super Bowl stage. A panel of sociologists and music writers unpack the dialog.

Shakira And Jennifer Lopez's Halftime Show Unpacked

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News: Chile's Miracle, AMA Nominations And Strong Words From Calle 13

People celebrate in Copiapo after the start of the rescue operation at the San Jose mine on October 12, 2010. Celebrations and media mayhem erupted in Chile Wednesday as the first of 33 men trapped underground for 10 weeks triumphantly returned to the surface in a landmark rescue operation. Claudio Santana/AFP / Getty Images hide caption

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Claudio Santana/AFP / Getty Images

Alt.Latino

News: Chile's Miracle, AMA Nominations And Strong Words From Calle 13

Musicians across the world send messages of hope for the rescued Chilean miners. Calle 13 puts the Puerto Rican government on blast. Algodon Egipcio Remixes Las Robertas. It's Alt.Latino's morning news.

New Music For Fall From Alt.Latino

Music Lists

New Music For Fall From Alt.Latino

Fall is in the air and that means two things: sweater weather and a big push by record companies to get lots of music into the hands of hungry music lovers. We're premiering some of it on the show today — a diverse selection of well-known artists and rising stars.

Listen To This Week's Show

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New Music: Shakira And Rita Indiana

Shakira. courtesy of the artist hide caption

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courtesy of the artist

Alt.Latino

New Music: Shakira And Rita Indiana

The Colombian superstar sings about going crazy, while rising Caribbean MC Rita Indiana tells a tale about going away. Both artists have released highly anticipated singles which celebrate the musical traditions of the Dominican Republic.

Listen to Rita Indiana's new single

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Shakira: Just Following The Pack?

On her new album, Shakira replaces Latin and Middle Eastern beats with generic dance-pop diva moves. Jaume de la Iguana hide caption

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Jaume de la Iguana

Review

Music Reviews

Shakira: Just Following The Pack?

On She Wolf, Shakira teams up again with songwriter-producer Wyclef Jean, but it sounds as if they're trying to recapture the magic of her global smash "Hips Don't Lie." The duo replaces the Latin and Middle Eastern beats with generic dance-pop diva moves.

Shakira: Just Following The Pack?

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Music

For Shakira, an Emotional Homecoming Show

Colombian singer Shakira has soared to worldwide fame with her sultry voice and swiveling hips. Latin America's most successful crossover artist recently returned to her hometown, to praise her birthplace and to express her concern about the region's poverty.

For Shakira, an Emotional Homecoming Show

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